Alpha thalassemia is common in people of African, Southern Chinese, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent.

• Alpha thalassemia affects the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
• Adult hemoglobin (hemoglobin A) is made of alpha and beta globins.
• Normally, people have four genes for alpha globin with two genes on each chromosome (αα/αα).
• People with alpha thalassemia trait only have two genes for alpha globin, so they make slightly lower amounts of hemoglobin.
• All red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.

What is alpha thalassemia?

Alpha thalassemia genes can mix in different ways; this can range from the loss of one alpha thalassemia gene to the loss of four alpha thalassemia genes. Based on the number of alpha thalassemia gene(s) a person is missing, the different outcomes are listed below:

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• Missing one alpha thalassemia gene (silent carriers): (αα/α-), a silent carrier does not have any symptoms.
• Missing two alpha thalassemia genes (alpha thalassemia trait): (αα/-) or (α-/α-), this normally does not cause health problems, but can cause low blood levels (anemia) and small red blood cells.
• Missing three alpha thalassemia genes (Hemoglobin H disease): (α-/-), this disease causes health problems and requires treatment by a physician.
• Missing four genes (Hydrops fetalis): (-/-), this is a life threatening disease.

What is Bart’s hemoglobin on the newborn screening test?

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A new baby with Bart’s hemoglobin on the newborn screening means that alpha gene deletions are present, and the baby might have alpha thalassemia, alpha thalassemia trait or hydrops fetalis.

Alpha thalassemia can cause low red blood cell levels (mild anemia) and should not be confused with not having enough iron in the blood.

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Tell the doctor if your child’s newborn screening test showed Bart’s hemoglobin.

• If a small amount of Bart’s hemoglobin is present at birth, it will usually disappear shortly after birth. This means your child has a one- or two-alpha gene deletion and has alpha thalassemia trait or is a silent carrier. Normally, a second newborn screening test will not detect this condition.
• If a large number of Bart’s hemoglobin and hemoglobin H genes are present on the newborn screening test, it usually means the baby has hemoglobin H disease (three-gene deletion).
• Hydrops fetalis is a condition that results from a four-gene deletion. Usually,the fetus will not survive unless it has a blood transfusion while in the womb and continues blood transfusions after birth until a permanent treatment, such as bone marrow transplant is offered.

What is alpha thalassemia trait?

There are two different types of alpha thalassemia trait.

1. The first type of alpha thalassemia trait has one alpha gene missing on each chromosome (α-/α-). This is called the trans form of alpha thalassemia trait.

• The trans form of alpha thalassemia trait (α-/α-) is common in African-Americans (20-30%) and in people of African descent. It is rare for African-Americans to have the cis form of alpha thalassemia, but it can happen.

1. The second type of alpha thalassemia trait has two missing alpha genes on the same chromosome (αα/-). This is called the cis form of alpha thalassemia trait.
2. Both types of alpha thalassemia trait are common in people of Southeast Asian, Southern Chinese, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent; however, the cis type of trait is more common.

People with alpha thalassemia trait do not develop hemoglobin H cell disease or hydrops fetalis later in life.

Why is it important to know if I have alpha thalassemia trait?

• Alpha thalassemia trait is inherited from one’s parents, like hair or eye color
• If both parents have the trans form of alpha thalassemia trait (α-/α-), all of their children will have alpha thalassemia trait.
• Alpha thalassemia trait normally does not cause any health problems.
  • People with alpha thalassemia trait can have small red blood cells and a low red blood count (mild anemia).
  • Alpha thalassemia should not be treated with iron. This treatment will not help people with alpha thalassemia trait. Alpha thalssemia can be treated with iron, only if iron deficiency is present in addition to alpha thalassemia and is confirmed by your doctor

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